Posted this before but Just for those who haven’t seen, this is from the Rukuhia Dump in NZ, unfortunately now under a few thousand tonnes of sand since these photos were taken. Aircraft remained in the surrounding area untill the 70’s and consisted of Avengers, p40’s, Corsairs, venturas and some Harvard parts are also in the dump. Where were all the restorers in the 70’s!! the photos of the aircraft line ups are pretty mind blowing! Lots of talk about other caches of parts in the area and I’ve indentified another buried group positively but sadly the owner won’t give permission to dig.
Just to throw my views into the mix from my last visit in ’05. My main impression of the museum is that it is a fantastic collection of aicraft and that it is well worth a visit but I had some very juxtaposed experiences coming from the place.
I found the same worn out feeling that a lot of people have experienced but at the same time I saw a good number of volunteers in blue overalls going round the place and working to repair things, in one area they were beavering away re-painting a floor and this was good to see. I found some of the staff to be helpful but at the same time found some to be outright hostile, in some areas the access to the aircraft is limited, around the 110, 88 etc. but in other areas the public can get far to close to the aicraft, within damaging distance.
The battle of britain hall contains some absolute gems but is dark and dingy with a retro 70’s vibe about the place, I can’t imagine it inspires the general public when they go into it and see a lot of tired looking aeroplanes in a dark room, no matter what a room holds if it is in an unattractive and outdated setting people will not get as much out of the experience as they should. Very far removed from the essence and spirit of the exhibits it holds.
One of two remaining 87’s in the world, not a very fitting way to display it, it’s an aircraft not a submarine, should be bright and light not dark and dingy.
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